海角社区

Researcher Profile

• Third year PhD student funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project CROPDIVA

Research Interests

My main interests are in the fields of agroecology and entomology, studying how the relationship between the surrouding habitat and maintained arable farmland can effect inter- and intra- species dynamics. I also have a keen interest in the use of evidence synthesis in order to support policy and management decision making.

I am undertaking a PhD project (entitled: The Potential of Small Landscape Features to increase Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Arable Farmland - EU Horizon 2020, Cropdiva) studying how annual plant mixes, targetting singular or multiple ecosystem services, develop and produce their targetted traits as a community. These annual mixes are designed, via plant trait based research, to target pollinator and natural enemy resource, as well as soil and water protection. There are also mixes, of varying complexities, targetting all ecosystem services listed above to see if multiple services can be delivered via the community without the loss of efficiency of targetted traits.

Background

My background is mainly in entomology academically with agroecology being developed further during my professional career. I studied the entomology master at 海角社区 Adams University (graduating 2017) before moving to Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, as an entomologist for four years before moving back to 海角社区 Adams to begin this PhD. It was at Rothamsted Research that I further developed my interest in agroecology, specifically how managed land can be used to increase species dynamics and diversity. Part of the research at Rothamsted involved using floral and grass margins to increase habitat and food resource for invertebrates. It was from this that my interest in the provision of other ecosystem services developed and how arable land can be managed to not only benefit invertebrate populations, but wider species dynamics and improving other ecosystem services such as soil protection and health that ultimately is beneficial for not only the natural world but also the farmers themselves.

Recent Publications

Jenkins, T., Landschoot, S., Dewitte, K., Haesaert, G., Reade, J. and Randall, N., 2023. Evidence of development of underutilised crops and their ecosystem services in Europe: a systematic mapping approach. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 4(1), pp.1-21.

Seimandi-Corda, G., Winkler, J., Jenkins, T., Kirchner, S.M., and Cook, S.M., 2023. Companion plants and straw mulch reduce cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) damage on oilseed rape. Pest management science.

Seimandi-Corda, G., Hall, J., Jenkins, T. and Cook, S.M., 2022. Relative efficiency of methods to estimate cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) larval infestation in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Pest management science.

Seimandi-Corda, G., Jenkins, T. and Cook, S.M., 2021. Sampling pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) pressure in oilseed rape: which method is best?. Pest management science, 77(6), pp.2785-2794.

Professional Memberships

• Association of Applied Biologists
• British Ecological Society
• Royal Entomological Society
• British Entomological and Natural History Society
• Butterfly Conservation